Stories From The Pacific

Lydia's story of her marriage with her first husband details 12 years of significant abuse, but she's using it to educate others who may be experiencing something similar.

For Thomas Manglona, journalism is life. Hailing from the island of Rota, Thomas is a native Chamorro multimedia journalist, whose work in covering government, social justice and environmental issues for TV, has solidified him as a trusted and respected figure within his local community.

For Thomas, he has always loved journalism and storytelling and he has always known what the final goal would be. The founder of the Pacific Islander Journalism Taskforce, Thomas' work has extended into the advocacy space, where he champions journalists and coverage across the Oceania region.

Today Thomas shares more on...

Agapetos Aia-Fa'aleava has always been compelled to speak up against social injustice, and when she learned a law in Queensland had let pubs and clubs deny entry to Pasifika people with facial tattoos, she spoke up once again.

She did this in the form of a documentary and a PhD, Illegal Ink, which explores culture and tattoos and considers who should and shouldn't be allowed to wear the malu.

This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 28 February 2024

LLane Munau is a filmmaker from Bougainville. The Crisis began she was 10 years old and her father decided to move the family inland to escape the brunt of the violence. In the bush they spent about half of the decade-long civil war, which killed 20,000 people. And for a while, Llane was protected from the harsh realities of the conflict. 

This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 6th December 2023

There is a children’s book that can be found in schools across Kiribati called Teaote and the Wall. It’s about one woman’s quest to build her own sea wall to protect her home in Tarawa from rising sea levels. The book is based on the story of i-Kiribati woman Teaote Davies and introduces children to the human impacts of climate change. Teaote also happens to be the Aunt of Stories from the Pacific host Bobby Macumber.  

This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 26th July 2023

A big mining company. A small island. And a lawyer just two years into practice. William Kadi from the Solomon Islands’ western province took on the case on behalf Wagina’s 2,000 residents, who were opposed to the idea of digging up 60% of their land for bauxite. Throughout the gruelling process, William’s escape was music. And he soon found himself going from a huge legal battle to a huge hit song.

When Tau'ili'ili Alpha Maiava plays the nose flute, he is transported back in time. He knows it is the same sound his ancestors heard 400 years ago. But this sound, along with many others, have almost been lost to history. Tau'ili'ili is travelling across the Pacific Islands to gather stories of extinct and endangered instruments like the nose flute. He hopes sharing this traditional knowledge will help people connect with who they were and who they are today.

When Visila Koliqaqaru Lagilagi started boxing, she didn't know where it would take her. She just knew it made her feel strong. It's a strength that she has had to draw on many times, particularly five years ago, when a chance accident paralysed her husband.

Matt Howard was excelling in his career as a paralegal in the military, but after falling in love with the storytelling tools of a camera, he risked it all to follow this new found passion. 

Living on the beautiful island of Pohnpei, Matt was raised by matriarchs and says his childhood was rich, full of imagery, stories and memories that should be captured for all to see. 

Later in his childhood, Matt's move to Hawai'i with his family revealed the uniqueness of his island home and he now uses the work in his co-founded production co...

Kumu Michelle Manu teaches her students to live a life of "intentional movement". These students are learning the ancient combat martial art of Lua which was once practiced by many Hawai'ian women warriors before it went into hiding in hula dancing. By reviving this practice Kumu Michelle hopes to break the stigma that femininity could only ever mean fragility. She hopes to encourage others to bring out the warrior spirit within them, the way our ancestors did. 

This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 19th June 2024

For millions of people around the world, Kim Sasabone needs no introduction. 

As the lead singer of Vengaboys, she's helped sell more than 25 million records worldwide, and the Dutch pop phenomenon's songs have filled dancefloors, wedding receptions and party playlists for nearly three decades.

From Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! to We're Going to Ibiza! and We Like To Party!, the Vengaboys became one of the biggest pop acts of the late 1990s, and the group has performed to audiences across almost every corner of the globe.

But behind the platinum records and international f...

Each week Stories from the Pacific will hear from a unique and extraordinary Pacific Islander.

A proud Gudang/Yadaykenu and Saibai man, Jay Wymarra is a hilarious comedian, fierce drag performer and self-confessed "black nerd".

Born in Townsville, raised across Canberra, Fiji, and Wollongong, Jay's comedy blends sharp wit with deep love for community.

From open mic's in Cairns to the stages of Edinburgh Fringe, he uses laughter as both survival and celebration.

Whether he's serving up Reanna-Matrix, his drag alter ego, or taking aim at racism and homophobia, Jay is flipping the script — one punchline at a time.

This edition of Stories From The Pacific wa...

For Kathy Martin, maps aren’t something you find on your phone — they’re inherited, passed down in the way your aunty cuts fish or says your name like it belongs to the land.

Raised in Piis-Paneu in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, Kathy grew up knowing place wasn’t something to chart, but something to feel. She travelled between islands as if the ocean were a highway, guided by language, memory, and community. Culture wasn’t taught — it was lived.

In a community where every adult cared for every child, stories were shared like food, and la...

Born of Fijian heritage, but raised in the heart of Western Sydney, Isaac Nasedra accidentally stumbled into environmental forensics, due to a university admissions error, only to discover a lifelong calling to protect the Pacific.  

From running for state parliament in a sulu, to challenging the status quo of "polite" activism, Isaac is on a mission to prove that Pacific Islanders are not just performers for consumption, but thinkers, philosophers and political forces.   

Isaac speaks candidly to Wendy Mocke in this episode of Stories From The Pacific on ABC Radio Australia.

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific, our guest traces her journey from a curious child in Fiji — gazing out across the ocean — to a leading neuroscientist exploring how the human brain works. But for Dr Suhailah Ali, understanding the mind was only part of the story. She came to realise that science alone isn’t enough if we don’t also fight for the world we inhabit. 

Now a passionate climate justice advocate, Dr Ali has moved beyond the lab to the frontlines, working with organisations like Jubilee Australia to hold powerful corporations accountable. 

Joining host We...

From the rugby fields of Cairns, far north QLD, to representing his country by captaining the Kumuls, Rod Griffin has carved out a career defined by resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to giving back.  

A proud Papua New Guinean who made his mark in the game, Rod has played for clubs like the Wests Tigers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and Ipswich Jets. But his legacy extends beyond the field, he's shaping the next generation of young athletes today. From professional footy to mentoring aspiring players, Rod’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose.  

This editio...

In this episode of Stories From The Pacific, Wendy Mocke sits down with rugby icon Toutai Kefu — a powerhouse No. 8 whose story is deeply woven into Australian rugby folklore. Born into a family legacy that helped shape the game, Toutai rose from a Queensland debut sensation to a world champion, delivering one of the most unforgettable moments in Bledisloe Cup history. From triumph to heartbreak and ultimately Hall of Fame recognition, this is a story of resilience, heritage, and the enduring strength of Pacific identity.

Aselu Vaguna O'Brien is a draftsman, climate advocate, and a man of many talents—though if you ask his friends, he's also just 'Strawberry,' the guy who won't stop talking about rugby or his love for fresh fruit.

Born in Fiji and raised in Tuvalu, Aselu's journey has taken him from engineering to media, from construction sites to mapping coastlines that are disappearing before his eyes. Today, he's using technology to document Tuvalu's changing landscape and fighting to ensure his homeland has a future.

This week's episode of Stories From The Pacific is a re...

What if healing didn't begin with blame, but with responsibility?

Matt Brown's journey from a complex childhood in Aotearoa New Zealand to a barbershop chair sparked an unexpected global movement. What began as conversations between men hiding their pain became She Is Not Your Rehab, a call for men to stop outsourcing their emotional wounds to the women in their lives.

Matt shares a powerful story of survival, courage and generational honesty, challenging long-held ideas about masculinity, trauma and accountability. This is a conversation about what happens when men choose to face their own wounds — an...

This is Namila Benson as you've never heard her before.

One of the few Melanesian women to occupy space on mainstream television in Australia, Namila reflects on how her voice became her power.

In this powerful conversation with fellow Wantok and Stories from the Pacific host, Wendy Mocke, Namila reflects on her childhood shaped by diaspora to a career spanning hosting, writing, mentoring artists and shaping media from the inside. She speaks candidly about identity, belonging and the courage it takes to stand fully in your own truth.

This is a conversation about...

On Stories From the Pacific, host Wendy Mocke sits down with the brilliant Tommy Misa, a storyteller who reminds us that some of the deepest truths arrive wrapped in laughter. 

From the queer bars of Sydney to the global stage of the Biennale, Tommy's work has carved out space for the misfits, the hard workers and anyone who has ever felt out of place under theatre lights.

A master of the Samoan Clown, a former nutritional medicine student who followed a literal dream to the stage, Tommy creates art that is as fiercely funny as i...

Jennifer Faumuina leads some of America’s most demanding work - overseeing crime scene investigations and critical domestic violence programs - yet her journey into law enforcement began far from the mainland, in the tropical islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. 

Now a sergeant with the Utah Department of Public Safety, Jennifer brings Pacific values of service, family and community into a profession where calm leadership, clarity under pressure and everyday courage are essential. As one of only a handful of Pacific Islanders in a large US police force, she carries both responsibility and representation on her shoul...

From a sandwich‑press burger and a pair of brown tongs came a signature — and a following. Māori Einstein's fast, funny cooking has travelled from Aotearoa to Adelaide, hitting millions of feeds and landing spots on Sunrise and 7NEWS. In this episode of Stories From The Pacific, host Bobby Macumber meets the person behind the handle: the name, the hustle, and what cooking has taught him about people. Moving between worlds has sharpened his sense of responsibility — to language, ancestors and future generations. With humour, intellect and deep cultural grounding, he reflects on carrying Pacific knowledge today, and why rec...

Our guest today is someone who doesn’t just pull up a chair - she builds the table.  

Born in Lae, Papua New Guinea and raised in Sydney, Australia, Sigrid Yaru navigated the culture shock of a new country through the universal language of netball.  

What began as a way to belong has grown into a lifetime of quiet, determined work for Melanesian visibility and community care. 

A community organiser with an open-door policy, a fierce advocate who protects artists and negotiates contracts from her living room, and the co‑founder of Kamp Kumul, Sigrid...

What does it take to put yourself first when you've been taught to carry everyone else? Hane Kokoha takes us from a childhood in Daru, Papua New Guinea, shaped by strict, loving grandparents and a deep "family and village" way of life, into the pressure-cooker of adulthood — a demanding career in a male-dominated IT world, stress, disconnection, and the moment she realised something had to change.

Hane speaks about choosing sobriety on her birthday, rebuilding self-respect, and rediscovering creativity — writing, performance and making art — as a "reset button" for life.

Listen to Hane's conversation with Wendy...

In this episode of Stories from the Pacific, Wendy Mocke speaks with Dr Sophie Naime and Ellen Mesibere, two Papua New Guinean women whose lives and leadership have been shaped by theatre and storytelling.  

From radio dramas, church performances and folk dancing to building pathways for young artists, they reflect on how creativity took root and grew into a movement. It’s a powerful conversation about art, identity and resilience in the Pacific. 

Elayne Tukuafu grew up being called "plastic" for not speaking her Tongan language. But as she moved through life, she reflected on how to stay connected to your culture and family in other ways — like continuing cultural traditions with creativity.

Elayne traces how Pacific identity is shaped through everyday acts of listening, remembering and passing knowledge between generations. The conversation moves between home, migration and creativity, revealing how language can be both a shelter and a responsibility.

Elayne, the wearable art designer behind family-owned business Talavou, speaks with care and honesty on the power of la...

Jasmine McGaughey is a proud Torres Strait Islander and African American writer and editor.

She's the beloved co-author of tennis legend Ash Barty's Little Ash series, inspiring young readers right across the country. And her latest work, Moonlight and Dust, is a young adult fantasy novel that blends culture, identity and magic in a way only she can.

Jasmine brings a powerful cross-cultural perspective to Australian literature — and her voice is fast becoming one to watch.

She sits down with Stories From The Pacific host, Bobby Macumber, on Radio Australia.

Quayd Purcell Ah You is a third-generation cultural practitioner and aspiring creator from La’ie, Hawai’i.  

Growing up under the famous Ah You name meant navigating intense family pressure to follow the sporting path, but Quayd found his own voice on stage at the Polynesian Cultural Center. 

Today, he uses dance, humour and social media content to carve a path of creativity and acceptance, inspiring young Pacific people to find balance between their culture, faith and identity. 

Quayd speaks to Bobby Macumber in this episode of Stories From The Pacific on ABC Radio A...

Flora Vano grew up drawing courage from stories and from the women who shaped her. Later, she learned the unforgiving arithmetic of cyclones; what happens when winds rise, communications fail, and care becomes a community’s lifeline.  

Today, as the country manager for ActionAid Vanuatu, Flora leads women across the islands in transforming disaster preparedness into collective power. 

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific, host Wendy Mocke meets the organiser who listens first, the advocate amplifying village voices, and the neighbour who always shows up when the lights go out.  

It’s a conve...

Fipe Preuss is wired for the leap. At 16 she skydived without telling her parents, then learned to find calm midair, underwater, and in rooms full of people. That is the person we are meeting, the risk taker and community maker, who later co-founded Living Koko, a Melbourne chocolate company working with small-plot Samoan farmers to turn fair-priced cacao into small-batch chocolate, drinking cacao and teas.  

Stories From The Pacific’s host Wendy Mocke speaks with Phoebe (Fipe) about her roots, the leaps that shaped her, and the future she wants on the ground. 

Listen to this...

Fipe Preuss is wired for the leap. At 16 she skydived without telling her parents, then learned to find calm midair, underwater, and in rooms full of people. That is the person we are meeting, the risk taker and community maker, who later co-founded Living Koko, a Melbourne chocolate company working with small-plot Samoan farmers to turn fair-priced cacao into small-batch chocolate, drinking cacao and teas.  

Stories From The Pacific’s host Wendy Mocke speaks with Phoebe (Fipe) about her roots, the leaps that shaped her, and the future she wants on the ground. 

Listen to this...

He ran out in the front row for New Zealand, pulled on the red jersey for Tonga, and battled in the scrums of France — but it was his hair that made him a global icon.

Tevita Mailau's legendary "horsey" haircut became part of rugby folklore: tugged at in scrums, turned into memes, and imitated by fans around the world. What most people didn't know was that even then, off the field, Tevita was the team barber, shaping fades and fixing up teammates long before he ever owned a shop.

Today, Tevita runs a thriving barbershop in...

Each week Stories from the Pacific will hear from a unique and extraordinary Pacific Islander.

Willy Missack is an inspiring changemaker from Tanna, Vanuatu, whose work has reached far beyond his island home. As a PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington and founder of Learn to Serve: Vanuatu, Willy empowers young people to tackle climate and community challenges head-on.

His journey has taken him from remote villages to royal recognition, including an award from Queen Elizabeth II.

In this episode of Stories From The Pacific, host Bobby Macumber dives into how it all began, what drives him to keep creating change across the Pacific, and the lessons he's learned...

Kalafi Moala is a Tongan journalist, editor, and founder of the Times of Tonga newspaper, a publication dedicated to holding power to account and giving voice to the people.

His fearless reporting brought him into direct conflict with the Tongan government, leading to his imprisonment and eventual deportation from his own country. But Kalafi never gave up. He was later cleared of all charges, allowing him to return home.

But there's more to Kalafi than his fight for a free press — after studying in New Zealand, he became a Christian missionary, travelling to Hawaii, Japan, Ho...

Samuel Gaskin is a Melbourne-based musician, composer, and creative producer whose work is transforming the arts.  

With roots in Aotearoa and Nigeria, Samuel has moved beyond chasing stardom to create spaces where communities feel seen, safe, and celebrated. His award-winning works Reckoning and Aunty have redefined representation on stage, blending ancestral knowledge with pop culture flair. 

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific on ABC Radio Australia, join host Bobby Macumber as she explores Samuel’s commitment to joy, healing and unapologetic visibility, and discover how his art is reshaping conversations around identity and inclu...

To understand Yvonne Ueda's journey is to picture the weaving of a chedecholl mat — each strand a story, each imperfection a source of strength. 

Her life has been shaped by preparation, patience, and partnership: from a winding educational path marked by setbacks, to discovering identity through motherhood, faith, and community. 

Today, she leads conservation projects in Palau with The Nature Conservancy, inspires young people through her church, and tends to her own farm: a dream she hopes will one day become her full-time calling.

Listen to Yvonne's conversation with Stories From The Pacific, host...

Stories From The Pacific